Kelly Joins The Eagles

Crystal Palace are delighted to confirm the signing of versatile defender Martin Kelly from Liverpool for an undisclosed fee.

The once capped England international, 24, has put pen to paper on a three-year deal at Selhurst Park after passing a medical last night.

He will wear the number 34 shirt for the Eagles and could make his debut for the club on the opening day of the Barclays Premier League season at Arsenal this weekend.

Born in Merseyside, Kelly had been on the books at Liverpool since the age of seven and progressed through the Reds’ academy ranks to become a key part of the side that won the reserve league title in 2008.

He made his first team debut the following year, coming on a substitute for Jamie Carragher in a Champions League tie against PSV Eindhoven, before moving on loan to then-League One outfit Huddersfield Town three months later.

After returning to Anfield, Kelly found regular football during the 2010/11 and 2011/12 campaigns, making 43 appearances for his hometown club.

His impressive outings in the Premier League and Europa League earned Kelly his first international cap against Norway in May 2012 – and following an injury to Gary Cahill, the full-back was drafted into Roy Hodgson’s Euro 2012 squad.

He began the 2012/13 season as a regular in the Liverpool side, but injuries curtailed his campaign and he has been restricted to 15 first-team outings during the past two years in the north west.

Now Kelly is looking to seize his opportunity at Crystal Palace and become a Premier League regular once again.

He told cpfc.co.uk: "I'm over the moon. It was a lot of travelling to get down yesterday, but I'm glad to have signed and I'm looking forward to the weekend.

"I'd heard about a potential move at the start of the summer, but I just wanted to concentrate on playing again in pre-season. I played a lot of games, which is what I needed. I've been out, fit, but not playing competitively all of last season.

"Now is the time at that age where I need to get back to playing week-in week-out.

"I'm looking forward to playing under Tony [Pulis] and playing regular football again.

"I remember coming here with Liverpool at the back end of last season to the 3-3 draw and the fans were incredible. That was one of the only stadiums I've come to where it felt like Liverpool fans the way they got behind the team on Champions League nights.

"The fans are massive are massive at any club - they were brilliant at Liverpool - and they seem brilliant here.

"But I've looked around the training ground and all the posters on the wall are about the team. That's what I want, to play for a team."

To see the full interview with Martin Kelly, log-in or sign up to Palace Player or check out a snippet on our official YouTube channel.